Postdoc Position – Bio-based Materials for Sustainable Agriculture

About the role

We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Fellow to join the Sustainable Materials Research Center at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University. The project focuses on developing bio‑inspired, circular‑economy‑driven biobased functional materials for sustainable agriculture, targeting water–soil interfaces, water retention, and controlled nutrient release.

Key responsibilities

• Design, formulate, and characterize biobased hydrogels, polymers, and composites for agricultural applications.
• Develop and optimize protocols for encapsulating nutrients and achieving controlled release.
• Investigate water‑use efficiency, soil moisture dynamics, and nutrient availability in water‑retentive systems under arid and semi‑arid conditions.
• Utilize analytical, spectroscopic, and microscopic techniques (FTIR, UV‑Vis, XRD, DLS, SEM‑EDS, TEM, TGA/DSC) for material characterization.
• Collaborate within an interdisciplinary team, maintain detailed experimental records, and contribute to scientific publications and conference presentations.

Required profile

• Ph.D. in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related field.
• Hands‑on experience in polymer/hydrogel synthesis, biopolymer modification, and water‑retentive formulation.
• Strong publication record demonstrating ability to conduct independent research.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and teamwork skills, with proficiency in English.

Required skills

• Polymer synthesis and hydrogel formulation.
• Biopolymer modification.
• FTIR spectroscopy.
• UV‑Vis spectroscopy.
• X‑ray diffraction (XRD).
• Dynamic light scattering (DLS).
• Scanning electron microscopy with EDS (SEM‑EDS).
• Transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
• Thermogravimetric analysis / differential scanning calorimetry (TGA/DSC).